Irish enjoy first drink on Good Friday for 91 years after booze ban lifted – and thisty punters started at 7am

Salttery's Pub on Capel Street in Dublin were among the first to start serving alcohol at 7am this morning

By Adam Higgins

30 Mar 2018, 11:23

Updated: 30 Mar 2018, 17:56

BOOZERS across Ireland opened on Good Friday for the first time in 91 years this morning in what is a “historic day for Irish pubs.”

Publicans rejoiced last year when the Dail voted to pass an amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2017 that allowed Ireland’s pubs to open on Good Friday despite the Christian tradition of abstained from alcohol on the holy day.

5

Publican Brian Conlon pulls the first Good Friday pint in his Slattery's Bar on Capel StreetCredit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

Slattery’s Pub on Capel Street in Dublin was among the first watering holes in the country to open their doors due to their early license that sees pints flowing from 7am.

The early house is popular with tourists, hospital staff, night shift workers and is famous for having seen Irish music legends U2, Thin Lizzy, Christy Moore and The Dubliners all play there.

Owner Brian Conlon poured the first pint in the popular city centre bar and said he was delighted they get to finally open on Good Friday following decades of campaigning from publicans.

He told the Irish Sun: “It will probably be a big occasion for the first few years and then I’d imagine it will be just like any other Friday.

“We used to use the day to do work in the pub like getting the floors done or painting. I don’t know when we’ll get those sorts of things done now that we’re open pretty much every day of the year.

“We’re probably 70 per cent tourists in here and even when we were closed on previous Good Fridays we’d have people banging on the windows wanting to get in so it’s good for tourism that everywhere is open for business now.”

5

Our man Adam was up early to make sure he got the first Good Friday pintCredit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

Among the first customers to have a drink in Slattery’s were a group of six American students who came straight from Dublin Airport.

They had no idea they were one of the first people in Ireland to have a pint on Good Friday in 91 years.

MOST READ IN NEWS

on track

Trouble glazing

FLOUT & ABOUT

Topless Irish PM has picnic with pals 'in breach of social distancing'

The Vinters’ Federation of Ireland claim that lifting the Good Friday booze ban will be worth €40 million to the country’s pubs.

VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben said: “The Good Friday ban is from a different era and is rightfully consigned to history. Like all other businesses who were never subject to a ban, publicans now have a choice to open.

NASTY TURN

MONSTER CATCH

YARD SCRAP

Edinburgh hardman floored by one punch trying to avenge attack on relative

FERRY NAUGHTY

Stowaways caught hiding on CalMac ferries to sneak to islands during lockdown

“Pubs opening on Good Friday is good news, both for publicans and their customers but also for the many tourists who visit Ireland over the Easter weekend, who in the past would find the pubs closed during a major holiday.

“The Good Friday ban was introduced a lifetime ago in 1927 and we took the view that such a piece of archaic and discriminatory legislation needed to be removed.

"Times have changed and the new law reflects this reality.”

We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200